The Rock Racing team of fashion designer Michael Ball was not present on the official list of 122 registered UCI Continental teams that was released by the International Cycling Union earlier today. Last year’s racing kits for the team had the slogan “Rock is not Dead”, addressing rumors of the team’s demise. While the statement released by the sport’s governing body said the registration for the 2010 Continental teams has been completed, UCI Chief Press Officer Enrico Carpani confirmed to VeloNation that there has not yet been a final decision on Ball’s team.
“Rock Racing is not on the list of Continental teams the UCI released today,” Carpani confirmed to VeloNation, “the team’s registration for a Mexican Continental license is still pending. The decision will be made by the UCI at a later date.”
Due to their application for Mexican Continental status, UCI rules state that the majority of the riders must be from the country where the team has its registration. It must also have a minimum of eight riders with a maximum of sixteen. If the Mexican Continental license is approved the team will then leave several riders out in the cold. Most likely to be affected are Tony Cruz, Freddy Rodriguez, David Martin, Florentino Marquez, Mauro Richeze, Patrick McCarthy and Jose Enrique Gutierrez.
Earlier this year the UCI’s Management Committee refused Rock Racing’s appeal for a Pro Continental license. The UCI said in a statement that the decision was taken based on dossiers that the teams had presented to them, along with advice from their auditors Ernst & Young.
According to EsCiclismo.com earlier this month, the Murcia region was preparing to partner with Michael Ball’s Rock Racing team to form the Rock Racing-Murcia UCI Continental Team, and would register with a Mexican Continental license. American Floyd Landis, who recently left Team OUCH in an attempt to race again in Europe, was expecting to part of the team for 2010. According to reports, there was a contingency in his contract that said the team needed to be Pro Continental for it to be enforced. It’s not clear whether he will ride for the team if their Continental license is approved.